Noah Syndergaard lived up to all the hype as he delivered a a terrific rookie season for the New York Mets. But the man they call “Thor” will have to come up with a god-like performance if he’s to outduel the Dodgers’ Zack Greinke, who has been absolutely dealing for the entire season.
Read on for our preview of this potential pitcher’s duel in Game 2 of the Dodgers-Mets NLDS. Meanwhile, check out our preview of Saturday’s other game, the Cubs vs. Cardinals Game 2.
[sc:MLBArticles ]New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
When: Saturday, October 10, 9:00 PM ET
Line: New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers — view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: TBS
Betting on the New York Mets
Coming on the heels of a very successful rookie season, Noah Syndergaard will make his first ever postseason start in Game 2. The 6-6 righty better known as “Thor” was terrific this year, with a 9-7 record, a 3.24 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 150 innings.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Syndergaard was sensational at Citi Field this year, going 7-2 with a 2.46 ERA and allowed a .196 opponent’s batting average. But he was below average away from home, with a 2-5 record, a 4.23 ERA and a .258 opponent’s batting average.
However, he showed marked improvement in his last two road starts, going 14.2 innings with three earned runs and 19 strikeouts in those two games. Thor had 37 K’s in his last four regular season games.
He also didn’t do so poorly in his lone start against the Dodgers, which also came at Dodger Stadium. He went six innings with one earned run (a solo homer), but was a no-decision in a 2-1 Dodgers win.
The Mets have won Syndergaard’s last three road starts. Meanwhile, the total has gone over in his last five road starts. New York won the season series against the Dodgers, 4-3.
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Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
Zack Greinke has been arguably the most consistent starter, not only in the NL, but in the entire MLB this season. The league’s leader in ERA (1.66) and pitcher WAR (9.3) went 19-3 on the year, and had only one month with an ERA higher than 2.05 (August: 2.45 ERA).
Greinke has been pretty amazing wherever he’s pitched this season, but it’s been basically an automatic win when he starts in the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium. Greinke went 10-1 at home with a 1.46 ERA, and lasted at least six innings in all 17 starts. The Dodgers, in turn, went 13-4 in Greinke’s home starts this season, including the last eight in a row.
Greinke made two starts against the Mets this season, going seven innings in each of those two starts. In his home start, he gave up four hits with no runs allowed in a 4-3 Dodgers win.
The Dodgers went 55-26 at home this season, tied for the best home record in MLB in the regular season.
Writer’s Prediction
Greinke shuts down the Mets bats as the Dodgers roll to a 5-1 win.
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